Operation Lactation

There are many things to consider when deciding how to feed your baby and it is IMPORTANT to know all the facts. In my opinion, the major consideration is whether it is worth missing out on all the AMAZING! benefits of breastfeeding. However, another quite practical matter to consider is the financial cost. So let's calculate!

I did some shopping at Walmart, figuring that this would be a good place to find a deal on some formula. There are all sorts of different formulas on the market, and all these companies are going to tell you that they are the best and most like breastmilk. There are more expensive and less expensive and organic and powders and liquid concentrates...so many choices. In this scenario we are going basic and will use Similac Advance, just because.

To begin the calculations, the package tells us that you will make twenty-two 4oz. bottles from one container, "When mixed as directed". It is SO important to mix the correct amount of formula with water to ensure that baby is getting the proper nutrition. Okay, so one $16.77-container will get us (22 x 4) 88oz. of formula, and each ounce will cost about $0.20.

The first couple days of life, baby probably will not be eating an entire ounce at a time, but for the sake of this example let's round up and say baby is eating 1oz. at a time for the first week. A baby will eat about every 3-hours so that is 8 times per day. Baby will eat 8oz. a day, for a total of 56oz. in the first week, which would cost about $11.20.

And then, baby grows and eats more, and you need to buy more formula. I am going to speed things up a little here...

Week 2 
2oz. every 3-hours = 112oz. for the week = $22.40
Week 3 
3oz. every 3-hours = 168oz. for the week = $33.60
Month 1-3 
4oz. every 4-hours = 720oz. each month = $288
Month 3-6 
6oz. every 4-hours = 1080oz. each month = $648
Month 6-9
8 oz. every 5-hours = 1152oz. each month= $691.20
Month 9-12 
7oz. every 6-hours = 840oz. each month = $504

That gives us a grand total of $2,198.40 for a year of formula. On the flipside, breastmilk costs $0.00. I am just about as frugal as they come, so this is definitely a significant cost to me. Now there are obviously other costs that come along with feeding your baby, whichever way you choose, but it cannot be denied that formula is more expensive.

I would like to present some more food for thought about the cost of formula feeding. There is not just the literal cost of buying the formula, but there is also the healthcare costs to consider. Exclusively breastfed babies have less incidence of ear and gastrointestinal infections, plus momma passes on immunity boosters to baby through breastmilk. So think of the potential costs of extra doctor visits and antibiotics. Beyond the first years of life, there are medical costs to consider for both baby and momma. The chance for asthma, diabetes, breast and ovarian cancer decrease with breastfeeding. Nationally, the healthcare costs related to the consequences of not breastfeeding are over $1-billion. Now that is a big cost! This is why it is a goal to increase breastfeeding initiation and duration globally because it is costing us A LOT to not breastfeed.

I think that it can put things into perspective to learn about the costs. In this case, it costs a pretty penny both personally and globally to feed a baby formula.

Peace, joy and blessings!